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Wireless mouse run through a KVM switch: question

Wireless mouse run through a KVM switch: question

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I use a data switch, electronic version from Iomega where you control two computers and share the mouse, keyboard and video between the two, so you hit scroll lock twice and that switches all the signals from one comp to the other. Right now the only connection to the switch for mouse and keys is the old PS2 connector. I want to run both comps on a wireless optical mouse. I tried using a USB to PS2 adapter, since the transceiver unit is a USB port device but something stops it from connecting through the KVM switch. Anyone know what signal is missing, if I can somehow supply that signal externally? I was thinking of trying two separate wireless mouse units with USB dongles in each comp but I was thinking maybe they would interfere with one another, and it would certainly be more convenient and cheaper to use a single wireless mouse for both comps. Any ideas?

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Originally posted by sonhouse
I use a data switch, electronic version from Iomega where you control two computers and share the mouse, keyboard and video between the two, so you hit scroll lock twice and that switches all the signals from one comp to the other. Right now the only connection to the switch for mouse and keys is the old PS2 connector. I want to run both comps on a wireles ...[text shortened]... rtainly be more convenient and cheaper to use a single wireless mouse for both comps. Any ideas?
Dynamite 😕

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Actually the USB adapter should work for amouse. However you can probably get a cheap PS2 wirelessmouse via ebay or suchlike.

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Originally posted by sonhouse
I use a data switch, electronic version from Iomega where you control two computers and share the mouse, keyboard and video between the two, so you hit scroll lock twice and that switches all the signals from one comp to the other. Right now the only connection to the switch for mouse and keys is the old PS2 connector. I want to run both comps on a wireles ...[text shortened]... rtainly be more convenient and cheaper to use a single wireless mouse for both comps. Any ideas?
why do you have two machines on 1 mouse to begin with? sounds extremely awkward. if the other one is for storage only, make a network and use it through your primary machine? you'll get more space as well, as you can move the other machine somewhere out of sight.

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why do you need to switch between the machines to begin with? that's why networking was invented. (but yeah, 5 mice is 5x trouble of course, and every unnecessary cable on your setup is the manifestation of evil)

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The post that was quoted here has been removed
well, I guess it's not that different from doing the same in software after all.


edit: come to think of it, there is a big difference in the number of cords: with a kvm you'll still have all the keyboard, mouse & display cables for each machine somewhere under your desk, a jungle of electric snakes. where as with networkin you'd only have the ethernet + power cable for each slave machine, right?

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Originally posted by wormwood
come to think of it, there is a big difference in the number of cords: with a kvm you'll still have all the keyboard, mouse & display cables for each machine somewhere under your desk, a jungle of electric snakes. where as with networkin you'd only have the ethernet + power cable for each slave machine, right?
Sure, but not all servers/software can practically be run headless, so KVM used to be the only way to handle this.
Now we have virtualization.

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Originally posted by sonhouse
I use a data switch, electronic version from Iomega where you control two computers and share the mouse, keyboard and video between the two, so you hit scroll lock twice and that switches all the signals from one comp to the other. Right now the only connection to the switch for mouse and keys is the old PS2 connector. I want to run both comps on a wireles ...[text shortened]... rtainly be more convenient and cheaper to use a single wireless mouse for both comps. Any ideas?
Have I got this right? You plugged the USB transceiver into a PS2-USB adapter?

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Originally posted by sonhouse
I use a data switch, electronic version from Iomega where you control two computers and share the mouse, keyboard and video between the two, so you hit scroll lock twice and that switches all the signals from one comp to the other. Right now the only connection to the switch for mouse and keys is the old PS2 connector. I want to run both comps on a wireles ...[text shortened]... rtainly be more convenient and cheaper to use a single wireless mouse for both comps. Any ideas?
Why not get two wireless mousis and plug one in each PC. You will still be sharing KB and monitor, so not too much clutter.

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Originally posted by Crowley
Have I got this right? You plugged the USB transceiver into a PS2-USB adapter?
I'd hazard a guess at the transceiver being powered by USB...

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Originally posted by Daemon Sin
I'd hazard a guess at the transceiver being powered by USB...
Would the PS2/USB adaptor not rejigglify the connections and apply power to the appropriate USB pins?